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Sam Neua, Houaphan Province - Sam Neua Market
Project gen by hotsia
http://www.hotsia.com > The creature you see above is what I call a "Water Centipede." The Lao call this long, many-legged creature "Kan To". It only lives in clean water. It used to be found in Vientiane, but now it's no longer available there. The water centipede you see is popularly made into 'mok' (steamed dish), a favorite food of Sam Neua. The people of Sam Neua and Laos call this dish 'Pla Phan' (Pla is a rare delicacy that's hard to find in the world today).
I had the chance to gather travel information in Sam Neua and came across the water centipede. It made me feel uneasy and I didn’t even dare to touch it because as a child, I was bitten by a centipede and the pain left a lasting impression. I tasted the Kan To when I was traveling to Vieng Xai to visit the Leader's Cave. At the bus station, they also sold mok Kan To. Hungry at the time, I tried several bites. Personally, I found it a bit tough.
And not very tasty. However, mok water centipede is a signature dish of the Sam Neua people that they wouldn’t trade for anything. Even people from Vientiane who have tried this water centipede still love it and seek opportunities to taste the original dish in Sam Neua. This shows the water centipede is quite famous. I rank Sam Neua Market as the most colorful market I have ever visited. There are two reasons for this.
First, the locals selling goods are extremely friendly, smiling brightly. Children are shy when we pass by and ask to take photos; some even run away. Second, the items sold at Sam Neua Market are incredibly colorful. Many things I encountered for the first time in my life. Another reason is everything remains traditional without outside contamination. Sam Neua Market is located along the Nam Sam River, stretching along the riverbank.
The market is divided into zones for local products: a regular selling zone, a pod selling zone, and a zone selling live chickens, ducks, and pigs. For vegetables and fruits, the market uses traditional Chinese scales. Modern kilogram scales exist but are not popular. I visited the market in the evening. Sam Neua children carry bamboo shoots. Another famous food in Sam Neua is Sam Neua sausage. The market has dozens of vendors lined up selling it.
I recommend trying it. Buy some and have the vendor fry it for you. It’s delicious and hard to find elsewhere. When in Sam Neua, you must try Sam Neua sausage. There is a pho stall in Sam Neua Market that I think sells the cheapest pho in Laos. Usually, pho costs 10,000 kip per bowl, but this stall sells it for only 5,000 kip (about 20 baht). The taste isn’t great and needs extra seasoning, but the freshness of the ingredients is top-notch. I took many photos and videos for you to enjoy.
If you have traveled somewhere interesting, please recommend it. I will visit and write about it on hotsia.com. Thank you again for following my journey and for all the emails you send. Mr.hotsia recommends hotels in Sam Neua for convenient travel. Traditional Chinese scales are still popular in Sam Neua. Thailand used to use them but now they are rare (a bit scary, haha). The Lao call them "Ka Tha". Only one is sold here, and it seems people don’t eat much.
Pigs are sold whole with hair like this. Tired? How about a sweet drink to refresh? Sam Neua girls like embroidery work, like this vendor selling chili peppers who also embroiders cloth, displaying it in the meat section. I asked to take photos and everyone smiled. Sam Neua children are very shy when I take photos. At 1,000 kip, in Luang Prabang this price only buys a drink. Flying squirrels at Sam Neua Market. I visited during bamboo shoot season, so there were many for sale. Fresh vegetable zone at Sam Neua Market. I am currently traveling in Sam Neua.
Follow along as we head to Hanoi. Video eating water centipede in Sam Neua. Video selling water centipede in Sam Neua. Video of Sam Neua morning market. Video of embroidery at Sam Neua Market. Drizzling rain means using a raincoat. The start of Sam Neua Market. Huddling together to sell bamboo shoots in the rain. Signs prohibit all vehicles. Grilled eggs, a truly popular snack. This vendor sells honey from bees. Atmosphere at Sam Neua Market. Hmong people also sell goods here. Fat-free pork sold with hair. Water chestnut jelly and soy milk. Nile tilapia from Vientiane. Fresh banana fish, rare to find.
Mayflies or dragonfly larvae, the same as what I ate at Thai Dam village. Never mind (I don’t care). Young corn looks delicious. Mr.Hotsia’s trip to Houaphan Province, Sam Neua - eating water centipede at Sam Neua Market. Route Phonsavan - Nam Noen - Sam Neua. Walking around Sam Neua, Houaphan Province. Playing scratch lottery at Vieng Xai Market. Leader Nu Hak Cave, Phoumsavan. Leader Kaisone Cave, Vieng Xai. Leader Khamtai Cave, Siphandone. Passing Nam Soi / Na Meo checkpoint to Hanoi. Leader Suphanouvong Cave.
